Yesterday, the entire system of Southeast Europe was put to the test. Due to low energy consumption, we had a large amount of reactive or parasitic energy. Only Bulgaria on the Balkan Peninsula has so-called compensatory mechanisms with which we can absorb these reactive currents. Over 90% of these capacities that can absorb this energy are on our territory. There is no charge for this service. Other countries do not invest in such capacities. This was stated by the Minister of Energy Zhecho Stankov in the program “More from the Day” on BNT.
This system helped us not only maintain stability in Bulgaria, but we also managed to help our colleagues in North Macedonia and keep them stable at a voltage of 110 kilovolts, he explained and thanked the energy specialists.
Currently, Bulgaria, with its energy mix, gives us stability and what happened in Spain and Portugal cannot happen, citizens can be calm, the Minister of Energy explained.
Part of the compensating capacities are the HPPs. These are tunnels between two water bodies with HPPs, during the hours when energy is cheap we use it to raise it to the upper dam, and when energy is expensive - we release it. These plants can be used both for energy storage and to compensate and balance the systems in our country and in neighboring countries. Bulgaria has proven that it is the balancer not only in the Balkans, but also in Europe, he emphasized.
Zhecho Stankov pointed out that it is extremely important to quickly repair the Chaira NPP and get the plant operational.
In the Energy sector, people very rarely understand that energy efficiency is the government's top priority. Funds have been pledged to continue the rehabilitation program, construction of new capacities at the Kozloduy NPP - Minister Stankov gave an example. More important are the territories between the 7th and 8th blocks, where we will have the opportunity to attract investors to build modern data centers and artificial intelligence training centers. It is also important that Bulgaria has been and will continue to be a net exporter of energy. This energy does not necessarily have to leave the country, because by using it here we are creating an opportunity for additional budget revenues that reach the people. The program includes the construction of additional infrastructure, both electrical and the vertical gas corridor, to guarantee security in the system, the Minister of Energy also said.